International Planning and

Social Urbanism in MalaysiaWorld Town Planning Day Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Friday 7 November 2014

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

Richard Summers BA(Hons) MRTPI

Past Chairman, International Committee, Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), 2012 to 2013

Past President, Royal Town Planning Institute, 2011

Principal, Spatial St Edmunds spatial planning and economic development

International Planning and Social Urbanism in Malaysia

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

1: OverviewSharing British and international experience to help

develop “social urbanism” in Malaysia

Introduction – what is “social urbanism” ?

The Worldwide Value of Planning

Planning Systems Worldwide

RTPI International Activities

World Town Planning Day – Equality in the City

Making Cities Socially Cohesive – for People

Making Cities Socially Cohesive – for Communities

Conclusions

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

2: Introduction

The RTPI and World Town Planning Day The RTPI is celebrating its Centenary this year and

joining World Town Planning Day around the world

RTPI members have just been taking part in the World

Town Planning Day “Online Conference”

The MIP World Town Planning Day The Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and University of

Malaya (UM) have hosted the WTPD “Online Conference” in

Kuala Lumpur earlier this week

The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning

(JPBD) is hosting this conference in the run-up to its main

event for World Town Planning Day next week

“Social Urbanism” in Britain The term “social urbanism” is not normally used in

planning in Great Britain

The nearest equivalents are “spatial planning” and

“sustainable development”

“Social Urbanism” in South America “Social urbanism” was articulated by Sergio Fajardo,

Mayor of Medellín, Colombia, from 2003 to 2007

He made the radical declaration: “our most beautiful

buildings must be in our poorest areas.”

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

3: So what is “Social Urbanism” ?

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

4: Worldwide Value of Planning

continued …

Get your copy at …

http://www.rtpi.org.uk/media/

941852/rtpi_worldwide_value_of_

planning.pdf

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

5: Worldwide Value of Planning (RTPI, 2014)

Planning around the world for the public good

continued …

Global challenges for

planning Rapid urbanisation

Poverty and inequality

Environmental pollution

Climate change

Economic recession and

recovery

Planning looks at

the whole picture Promoting healthy cities

Green infrastructure and

public transport

Good quality housing and

renewable energy

Engaging with local

communities

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

6: Worldwide Value of Planning

Planning enables sustainable development Planners balance competing interests in spatial plans

and development projects

They deliver high quality development and protect

valuable built and natural environments

Flexible planning systems and highly skilled planners

work to improve health, well-being and quality of life

Planners aim to deliver sufficient housing, jobs, facilities

and transport in harmony with the environment

Community engagement is vital to effective local

planning which is now spreading around the world

continued …

International benefits of planning for people Strengthening communities eg helping to heal divided cities

Enabling economic growth eg Sydney Olympic Park (Australia)

Conserving environments eg Pool Heartlands, Cornwall (UK)

Encouraging place making eg Kibera, Kenya

Promoting sustainable development eg Vienna, Austria

Involving local communities eg Choma, Zambia

Providing for infrastructure eg Yakutsk, Siberia

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

7: Worldwide Value of PlanningPlanning around the world for the public good

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

8: Improving Local CommunitiesIntegrated Development Programmes in Zambia

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

9: Planning Systems Worldwide

British Planning System Development plans and development management

within national planning policy and guidance

Statutory processes linking professional, individual,

community and political inputs nationally and locally

Commonwealth Planning Systems Based on the British 1947 Town & Country Planning Act

adopted across the former British Colonies

Served Commonwealth countries well but not all were

updated with British planning updates

continued …

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

10: Planning Reforms in England, UKLocalism Act 2011 and National Planning Policy Framework 2012

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

11: Planning Systems Worldwide

Planning Systems in Europe Planning systems in many European countries are

based on “urbanism” rather than “spatial planning”

The European Union has introduced Pan- European

spatial planning to add coherence to other strategies

Planning Systems in the United States USA planning system is based on zoning with land use

control for sites and formulaic regulations for buildings

State and Federal Governments set wider strategies

supported by funding programs to guide development

Purpose The purpose of the RTPI is to promote the science

and art of town planning in the public interest

Our international mission is to play our part in

achieving a more sustainable world

Activities We work with the Global Planners Network and

others to promote the worldwide value of planning

We are committed to building local planning capacity,

advocacy, communication and networking

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

12: RTPI International

continued …

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

13: International Work

RTPI International Committee Mix of RTPI members, officers and external advisers

Mission: playing our part in achieving a more

sustainable world through spatial planning and through

capacity building particularly in developing countries

RTPI International Policy and Research Officer Supports the International Committee and liaises with

international partners and other directorates

Promotes RTPI international work, research and best

practice and assists RTPI members abroad

continued …

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

14: International Linkages

International Planning Organisations We work with international partners including …

Global Planners Network (GPN)

Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP)

European Council of Planners (ECTP-CEU)

Other Planning Institutes (eg APA, CIP, PIA)

International Planning Conferences We contribute to events such as …

World Urban Forum organised by UN-HABITAT

Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM)

World Town Planning Day “Online Conference”

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

15: The Socially Cohesive CityUniting a socially divided city … Medellín, Colombia

Theme: Equality in the City The World Town Planning Day “online conference” has

focussed on “Making Cities Socially Cohesive”

It took up the call of the World Urban Forum Declaration

for “urban plans … that are solidly grounded in the

… principles of equity, justice and human rights.”

National and International Celebrations The “online conference” linked national celebrations into

an on-line conference of planners around the world

It looked at projects with measurable improvements that

engaged with all sections of the community.

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

16: World Town Planning Day

continued …

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

17: World Town Planning DayMaking Cities Socially Cohesive – for People

Making cities inclusive … by meeting the needs of

marginalised groups and engaging with them

Making cities participative … by identifying and

overcoming barriers to grassroots engagement

Making cities accessible … by reviewing gated

communities and the privatisation of public space

Online conference keynote – Bill Chandler

Planning must be culturally relevant through effective

community engagement and inter-disciplinary working

It must create sustainable and equitable environments

for all people and the communities they inhabit continued …

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

18: World Town Planning DayMaking Cities Socially Cohesive – for Communities

Making cities knowledgeable … by using technology

to increase knowledge transfer for local communities

Making cities well governed … by improving links

between different levels and departments of government

Making cities well regulated … by using the law to

enhance social equity and reduce social exclusion

Excerpts from the online conference

Inclusive planning must give voice to local residents to

enable them to improve the liveability of their local areas

Private sector priorities complicate social cohesion

objectives, particularly the supply of affordable housing

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

19: The Socially Cohesive CityUniting a socially divided city … Derry-Londonderry, Ireland

RTPI International Planners enable sustainable development

Planning systems apply global principles locally

RTPI aims to play its part in a more sustainable world

World Town Planning Day Equality in the city – making cities socially cohesive …

inclusive, participative, accessible, knowledgeable, well governed and well regulated

Online conference – improving community engagement

And a point to ponder from HRH Prince Charles …

“We cannot have sustainable communities … and

sustainable urbanisation … without planning”

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

20: Conclusions

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

21: RTPI Centenary Policy Futures Can you suggest some Malaysian examples ?

The RTPI is looking ahead to the next 100 years with

five policy themes to …1. promote sustainable development to tackle the

challenge of climate change

2. ensure a spatial dimension across public and private

sectors in planning for development

3. promote economic and housing growth together with

planned infrastructure

4. encourage planned urbanisation to secure equitable

health and well-being

5. make decisions as locally as possible to strengthen

effective governance

Marion Frederiksen, RTPI

International Policy and Research OfficerMarion.Frederiksen@rtpi.org.uk

International Planning and Social Urbanism in Malaysia

Part 1: Planning Systems Worldwide

22: Contact information Richard Summers, Past Chairman,

RTPI International CommitteeRichardSummers@SpatialStEdmunds.co.uk

RTPI WebsiteClick on world map on front page www.rtpi.org.uk